A fast-food chain is already 'struggling to hire' since the Brexit vote

Leon co-founder James Vincent Leon The co-founder of an upmarket fast food chain says it has struggled to hire European staff in the wake of Brexit.

John Vincent, co-founder and chief executive of Leon, told The Telegraph that the firm's "ability to recruit has been weakened" since Brexit.

Leon is an upmarket UK chain which currently has 36 restaurants in the UK, and is a widely popular lunch destination for those seeking its brand of "naturally fast food."

The chain has a Mediterranean-inspired menu, and Vincent said that he wanted to "employ people who can project and understand that — people from Italy, the south of France, and so on."

He said that his workforce had been "very upset" by the referendum result, as it made them feel unwelcome as immigrants, and made them feel worried about being allowed to stay.

"We still don't know - and the government won't tell us - what the immigration situation is going to be," he added.

Many industry leaders have voiced concerns over the impact of Brexit on UK recruitment. A Bank of England report in September found that businesses have put hiring on hold, and stalled investment since the EU referendum result.